Over the past two seasons, Frank Gore has expressed frustration and disappointment with the Indianapolis Colts. His emotions are understandable, after the Colts missed the playoffs in both seasons. When Gore signed with the Colts, it was assumed that he was one of the few missing pieces to help them push into the Super Bowl.

Injuries to Andrew Luck and the Colts’ roster as a whole have helped hold them back from reaching their full potential. Poor roster decisions by Ryan Grigson also held the Colts back over the past couple of years. Now, Chris Ballard has rebuilt the Colts’ defense and hope is back within the city of Indianapolis surrounding the Colts.

Last season with the Colts, Gore carried the football 263 times for 1,025 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 3.9 yards per carry, which is below what Gore was averaging ahead of signing with the Colts. Part of that has to do with the offensive line inconsistency that the Colts have had, but Gore still wants to get that number up a bit this season.

If the Colts want to make a run at the playoffs and competing in the AFC, Gore has to step up into a major leadership role.

Heading into his 13th NFL season, Gore is the veteran on a young Colts’ offense. Luck is a capable leader, but having a vet with the experience that Gore has step into that role is extremely valuable. Gore was a vocal leader for the San Francisco 49ers and now it’s time to bring that version of himself to Indianapolis.

Looking ahead at the upcoming season, the Colts have a very strong chance to take the AFC South back. Even though the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans have all improved over the past couple years, the Colts are still the best team by far on paper. If they can stay healthy and play to their full potential, the Colts will win their division title.

Not only should the Colts win their division title, they should also compete for the AFC championship. New England is widely expected to win the AFC once again after a huge offseason, but outside of the Patriots, there are a lot of middle-of-the-pack teams. Indianapolis might very well match up better with New England than any other team in the conference.

Expect to see Gore rise to the challenge this season for the Colts. He isn’t getting any younger and this could be his last chance as a starting running back to make a run at a championship. Gore needs to put up a big season from a statistical standpoint, but he needs to lead the Colts by example and vocally as well.

Do you think the Indianapolis Colts can compete in the AFC? Will they win the AFC South? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!

About Evan Massey

Evan Massey is a sportswriter that has been in the industry for the past six years. He has seen his work featured on Sports Illustrated, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN and Bleacher Report. Known for his work ethic and ability to cover any league and team, Evan is always willing to talk sports with fans and debate any topic. Follow him on Twitter at @Massey_Evan, or email him: emasseysports@gmail.com.